Bigger Tire Qs
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: PA
Bigger Tire Qs
All you guys running bigger tires, what do I need to know ahead of time before I make the switch??
I got a deal on some 35x12.5-16's so I'm thinkin of putting them on and I wonder this...
1. Steering stabilizers, do you need them?
2. Does this mess up your computer with the shift points and such, does the speedo HAVE to be re-calibrated?
3. Any other good advice?
I already upgraded my brakes so I feel I 'm good there.
Thanks
I got a deal on some 35x12.5-16's so I'm thinkin of putting them on and I wonder this...
1. Steering stabilizers, do you need them?
2. Does this mess up your computer with the shift points and such, does the speedo HAVE to be re-calibrated?
3. Any other good advice?
I already upgraded my brakes so I feel I 'm good there.
Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2001
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Here's my opinion- take it for what it's worth.
1 steering stabilizers- if you need more than one you probably have some kind of steering problems. I ran 35's w/ no stabilizer and they worked just fine.
2 shouldn't mess things up too much w/ the computer but I have no first hand experiance w/ this. the speedo doesn't HAVE to be recalibrated, just remember that you are always going faster than it says you are. Going to a 35 your speedo will be roughly 10% off. If it says 60 your doing 66.
3 Leave a little more room to stop as they will affect your braking and acceleration performance. Oh, and watch yourself around those little Honda Civics, it's very tempting to run right over the top of them when you know you could if you tried.
1 steering stabilizers- if you need more than one you probably have some kind of steering problems. I ran 35's w/ no stabilizer and they worked just fine.
2 shouldn't mess things up too much w/ the computer but I have no first hand experiance w/ this. the speedo doesn't HAVE to be recalibrated, just remember that you are always going faster than it says you are. Going to a 35 your speedo will be roughly 10% off. If it says 60 your doing 66.
3 Leave a little more room to stop as they will affect your braking and acceleration performance. Oh, and watch yourself around those little Honda Civics, it's very tempting to run right over the top of them when you know you could if you tried.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: South Shore, MA
There is a tech article on here on how to recalibrate your speedo, but I forget what years it covers if you are interested. I did a search on this and found a miata site that has a calculator where you put in your stock tire size then your new one and it tells you how much your speedo is off in a percentage. A search using "speedo calibration" should bring it up.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,135
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From: Illinois
that tech article covers 92-96 f series and bronco.
i printed it off for future reference. go to the tech articles page and scroll down to "2001 articles" its the first one in the list titled " How To Recalibrate The Speedometer on 1992-1996 Ford F-Series and Bronco"
i printed it off for future reference. go to the tech articles page and scroll down to "2001 articles" its the first one in the list titled " How To Recalibrate The Speedometer on 1992-1996 Ford F-Series and Bronco"
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
You must recalibrate the speedometer because you have an E4OD. If you don't your shift points will be off. It takes about 10 minutes, very simple.
Steering stabilizers are good, their main purpose is to stop the jolt through the steering wheel when going off road hitting bumps and ruts, I have 2 on 35's, their cheap so why not.
Steering stabilizers are good, their main purpose is to stop the jolt through the steering wheel when going off road hitting bumps and ruts, I have 2 on 35's, their cheap so why not.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
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From: USA
I see you have the 4.10 axle and 460 engine, so you should be able to run the 35's without changing the gears, but you will still be down on power compared to what you had with stock tires. A gear change to 4.56 would be close enough to restore stock performance and rpm range and get your speedo a little closer to the correct speed if the sensor reads off the ring gear (I don't know that it does tough).
If you're not lifting the truck to fit the 35's, you will have to space the front bumper forward a couple inches to fit them without rubbing the lower edge of the bumper when turning. I had to do this with 33's on the F350. I don't know if any front fender trimming will be necessary or not.
Putting the steering stabilizer on helped a little with the tendency of the tires to follow ruts in the road making the truck wander if not constantly corrected with the steering wheel.
You may want to put some heavy duty shocks on the front, especially if yours are a little worn. I put Bilsteins on the front of mine and it rides nice, or as good as a one ton truck can be expected to anyways.
If you're not lifting the truck to fit the 35's, you will have to space the front bumper forward a couple inches to fit them without rubbing the lower edge of the bumper when turning. I had to do this with 33's on the F350. I don't know if any front fender trimming will be necessary or not.
Putting the steering stabilizer on helped a little with the tendency of the tires to follow ruts in the road making the truck wander if not constantly corrected with the steering wheel.
You may want to put some heavy duty shocks on the front, especially if yours are a little worn. I put Bilsteins on the front of mine and it rides nice, or as good as a one ton truck can be expected to anyways.
Last edited by SoCalDesertRider; Feb 19, 2004 at 08:09 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: PA
Sounds like stabilizers are in my future and like you say why not only 129$ for dual, Tuff Country's site reccommend's a single for 33's and dual for 35 and above.
Excellent article on recalibrating the speedo too.
Excellent article on recalibrating the speedo too.
